Table top construction



June '14, 1960 w. E. NORDMARK 2,940,805

TABLE TOP CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 29, 1958 INVENTOR Willi-er E'..Mavdmaz'la ATTORNEY Patented June 14, 1960 thee ran a ran c'oNsrnUcrioN Waiter E. Nerdmariz, Grand Rapids, Mich assignor to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich a cerperation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 783,596

3 Claims. (Cl. 311-107) The present invention relates to top construction for tables, desks and the like.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide an improved table top and method for making the same; to provide a table top having a top panel, a supporting rim for the marginal edge of the top panel, and a decorative edge molding for securing the top panel to the supporting rim; and in general to provide such a table top which is sturdy and durable, which can be fabricated quickly and economically, and which is attractive in appearance.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a table top constructed according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view of parts of the top, taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view but showing the several parts of the top in disassembled relation and as they would appear prior to assembly; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 2 and showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

Referring now in detail to this drawing, the table top there shown generally comprises a top panel 10, a supporting rim 11 and an edge molding 12. The top panel may be of any suitable material such as solid wood, plywood or plastic laminate. The structural inner marginal supporting rim 11 is desirably fabricated of steel adapting it for welded assembly to a suitable supporting structure, not shown. The edge molding 12, which is both decorative and structural, is preferably an aluminum extrusion.

The supporting rim 11 is of inverted L-shaped form, having an upstanding outer wall 13 and an inwardly extending upper flange 14.

The edge molding 12 is shown in its initially extruded form in Figure 3. It comprises an upstanding outer Wall 15, an inwardly extending top flange 16, and an inwardly extending lower flange 17 which runs intermediate the upper and lower edges of the outer wall 15. As initially extruded the inner marginal edge 18 of the lower flange 17, and also the bottom marginal edge 19 of the edge moldings outer wall 15, extend inwardly and downwardly.

The several parts of the table top are assembled by first applying the edge molding 12 around the top panel 2 19, with the top flange 16 of the edge molding in engagement with the peripheral, marginal edge of the top panel. These parts are then assembled to the supporting rim 11 as shown. in the final assembly operation, the marginal sembly, without the necessity edge 18 of the edge moldings lower flange 17 is crimped downwardly and outwardly around the inner edge of the rims upper flange 14, while the bottom marginal edge 19 of the e e moldings outer wall 15 is crimped inwardly and up" 13/ around the bottom edge of the rims outer wall is. the parts are thus securely held together in asof any welding or any special fastening devices such as rivets.

in the slightly modified form of the invention seen in Figure 4, the upper peripheral marginal edge of the top panel 18 has a groove 2%) cut therein, into which snugly fits the top flange 16 of the edge molding 12, so that the upper surface of the edge molding is flush with the top panel 10.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a novel table top construction and method of making the same, and While but two specific embodiments of the invention have been herein shown and described it will be understood that numerous details thereof may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A top construction for a table or the like, comprising: a top panel; a supporting rim having an upstanding outer wall, an upper flange extending inwardly beneath the marginal edge of the top panel for the support thereof; and an edge molding having an upstanding outer wall and a top flange extending inwardly in engagement with the upper peripheral marginal edge of the top panel, said edge molding having a lower flange intermediate the upper and lower edges of the moldings outer Wall, said lower flange extending inwardly between the marginal underside of the top panel and the upper flange of the supporting rim and having its inner marginal edge crimped downwardly and outwardly around the inner edge of the rims upper flange, and with the lower portion of the moldings upstanding outer wall in flush engagement with the upstanding outer wall of said supporting rim.

2. A top construction according to claim 1 in which the bottom marginal edge of the edge moldings outer wall is crimped inwardly and upwardly around the bottom edge of the rims outer wall.

3. A top construction according to claim 1 in which the top panel has a groove in its upper peripheral marginal edge and in which the top flange of the edge molding extends into said groove with its upper surface flush with the upper surface of said top panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,810,579 Schmitz June 16, 1931 2,195,318 Modray Mar. 26, 1940 2,388,297 Slaughter Nov. 6, 1945 2,568,153 Hickman Sept. 18, 1951 2,851,323 Braal et a1. Sept. 9, 1958 

